History doesn't always repeat itself, but it likes to rhyme. There has been enough domestic pressure put on both sides of the aisle questioning the relationship with Israel that perhaps the mistakes of previous empires in decline can be avoided here. So far it seems like Trump has favored quick limited attacks, which makes sense for several reasons. The US Military is not set up for protracted conflict, but rather quick surgical shock and awe displays of force to bully lesser countries into submission. Asymmetric Warfare, combined with new moral standards really make a protracted conflict like what we are seeing in Ukraine almost impossible for a Democracy. The people don't have the appetite for it anymore. Newer missiles, combined with China sanctioning the US War Machines ability to produce interceptor missiles with the rare earth ban seemingly has nerfed some of the War Machine's ability to project as much power in the region. We will see. I think it will be a political error to try and distract from the Epstein Files by starting a War, but then again, not too many Trump cards left to play for this administration. They've been caught obstructing justice with their pants down and stand to lose the younger generation that propelled them into office if they keep this up.
Further to my point, Trump really wants no part of a war against Iran but Bibi will end up getting what he wants. Trump is starring down the end of the US as a global empire.
After telling the protesters that "help was on the way" during the upheaval, the Vice President made it clear today that the US is only after a nuclear deal in negotiations. A second carrier is probably soon on the way to the Gulf. Which is stupid because if we are not doing regime-changing bombing, how is it supposed to be useful? What we have over there now is already overkill for "get back to negotiations" bombing. We spent a great deal of money and disrupted a lot of military preparations for, as far as I can tell, nothing.
War game projections over China taking involve say victory for the USA, but with two carriers going down.. https://csis-website-prod.s3.amazon..._NextWar.pdf?WdEUwJYWIySMPIr3ivhFolxC_gZQuSOQ Found on page 88.
I guess the "month of negotiations" isn't going well because the following aircraft are headed to Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan right now: 24 F-15E 30 F-35A 6 EA-18G 12 A-10C 2 AWACs
Iran says it closed Strait of Hormuz for live fire drills as it held nuclear talks with U.S. | PBS News Fascinating dance going on. Closing the strait, even for a few hours, is a new provocation... "Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei meanwhile warned that "the strongest army in the world might sometimes receive such a slap that it cannot get back on its feet."" And also, "Iran's foreign minister later adopted a different tone, expressing optimism about the talks and saying "a new window has opened" for reaching an agreement. "We are hopeful that negotiations will lead to a sustainable and negotiated solution which can serve the interests of relevant parties and the broader region," Abbas Araghchi told a U.N. disarmament conference after leading the Iranian delegation at the talks held in Geneva..."
I didn’t say he said it in Profiles. And to come clean, I was quoting historian Jon Meacham quoting JFK. Heard Meacham say it on Fresh Air about two hours earlier.
Add another AWACs (it and it's brothers are going to RAF Mildenhall), which makes 6 AWACs newly based in Europe. A bunch of fighters means a raid. A bunch of AWACs means a campaign.
There were also 48 F-16, 12 F-22, and 35 refueling aircraft, although the latter is somewhat implied by all the fighters as they fly together across the Atlantic to allow the fighters to reach their destination. There's now 85 refueling aircraft in the Middle East. What's the gameplan? Downfall of the regime and not care what comes out of it? Even with that overwhelming firepower how do you dismantle the many hundred thousand strong forces of internal security? They must (I hope) have ideas. Maybe lists of targets provided by dissidents. As a fan of airplanes I'm a little sad that this going to mean the forever end to flyable F-14's, AH-1J, and other Middle Cold War aircraft.
* And hardly a peep from Congress. The only comment I have seen opposing it so far is former Congresswoman Majorie Taylor Greene Congress really needs to reassert its war power.
For the most powerful force on the planet, it makes no sense that the president can just unilaterally decide to use military force somewhere like bombing Nigeria on Christmas Day for shits and giggles or kidnap a leader of a foreign country because of how he dances. It’s ridiculous if you think about it and very undemocratic.
As it pertains to Venezuela ... technically it was an "undemocratic" move against an undemocratic Government.
The post-Vietnam way of doing this has been dead for a while now. This topic might fit into “necessary but not sufficient.”
I’m very, very, very nervous that we are going to get into a protracted conflict with Iran, and partner with Israel in doing so. Not only will that be bad for America just in and of itself, if my fear comes true, it’s going to turbocharge antisemitism.
Bunch of tankers and cargo aircraft flying in today. Israel is on highest alert. Poland is telling its citizens to get out of Iran using rather panicked language.
BBC https://www.bbc.com › news › articles › ce3kenge1k9o What could happen if the US strikes Iran? Here are seven scenarios - BBC 29 jan 2026From regime change to retaliation, the BBC's Frank Gardner outlines possible outcomes of US strikes on Iran.
indianwitness.com https://www.indianwitness.com › news › international › reports-us-prepared-to-attack-iran-this-weekend-trump-h Reports: US Prepared to Attack Iran This Weekend; Trump Has Not ... VandaagUS military buildup positions forces for possible strikes on Iran starting this weekend, pending President Trumps authorization amid stalled nuclear negotiations.
I wonder with what can they succesfully do this: Reuters https://www.reuters.com › world › middle-east › if-us-attacks-iran-says-it-will-strike-us-bases-region-2026-02-07 If US attacks, Iran says it will strike US bases in the region 7 feb 2026Iran will strike U.S. bases in the Middle East if it is attacked by U.S. forces that have massed in the region, its foreign minister said on Saturday, insisting that this should not be seen as...